When a student is placed on Academic Probation, I meet with them once a week during the next term. Importantly, I assign them Q&As, E&Es, or other sample question books to work on throughout the semester. Every week, I assign about 10 pages of questions in each of the subjects they are taking. I don't pick up any of their work once it is completed, unless they have a specific question. I just use it to keep them on task and to get them used to the idea of continually doing practice questions as they read and outline their courses. Toward the end of the semester, I give them long essay questions that I have created, have them turn them in, and go over the answers. I've used this model the past few years, and it has significantly improved student work, leading students to get off probation and to ultimately pass the bar on the first try.
I think the key to this is to actually give weekly assignments and to actually give them copies of the materials. It's much harder to ignore the extra weight in their backpack than it is to ignore something I've emailed, pointed out on CALI, or posted on TWEN.
(Alex Ruskell)
